Proffitt said if there’s no lifeguard on duty, he recommends avoiding the water.

“My advice to everyone is absolutely not — don’t go swimming if there’s no life guards around,” Proffitt explained. “It’s just an unnecessary danger. You come out here you wanna enjoy yourself have a good time at the beach with your family. There’s a lot of great things you can do at Wrightsville Beach or any beach. Going in the ocean alone when it’s not guarded is not a good idea.”

Proffitt also advised to bring a flotation device into the water, like a boogie or surf board to grip to — whether there is a lifeguard on duty or not.